More funding to help with Mental Health

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health has acknowledged that there is a “black spot” in mental health care for children and young people, and “massive worry for parents”.

Healthwatch North Somerset has  recognised that the focus on crisis care and dealing with acute ‘illness’ means that less attention has been given to prevention and early intervention.

Healthwatch North Somerset has held meetings in public and provided evidence through its reports of the difficulties young people and their families in have accessing services before mental health problems  becomes acute.   We have heard about long delays for diagnosis and treatment, and parents feeling sidelined from discussions about their children’s well-being.   Healthwatch North Somerset were recently praised for its work on Young People’s mental health by the Children’s Commissioner.

We hope that the Prime Minister’s announcement will add further momentum to  much-needed improvements.  But it is important that patients and families keep speaking out about the help they need and feedback their experiences to Healthwatch North Somerset.